The Spanish people, the stage of the puppet soul
It Barcelona Puppet Festival It will celebrate its 15th edition on the weekend of March 22 and 23, and will also do so with many new features. The most anticipated puppet meeting in the Catalan cultural landscape plans to attract new family audience to enjoy this millennial stage art from a contemporary perspective.
Since the birth of this project, in 1999, the festival has undergone great changes and reinventions to keep the appointment alive to this day. Of course, without ever changing its headquarters, the Spanish people. The space, which has a great historical bond with the puppet world, saw this concentration born when a craftsman who ran the workshop on the creation and sale of puppets from this venue decided to organize a festive day. This event, which was initially only in the morning, grew until it occupied all day, attracting more than 15,000 families and 70 companies in their first ten years. In 2010, the meeting was transformed into a wider festival, incorporating more international programming. Despite the prestige of this, the desired sustainability was not achieved, and in 2013 it was decided to transform the encounter into a smaller and more local date with the aim of recovering the spirit of the initial rallies. A format that has worked to the present day.
Image of the 14th edition of the festival. Image: Juliet Feroz
A program that makes a dialogue of the past and the future
In this edition, the management has decided to make a third turn on the festival billboard. Although local companies and family audiences are still the central axis, this year there is a clear commitment to the diversity of styles. A programming by local, national and international shows of both consolidated and emerging companies. This is how the festival aims to combine innovation with tradition, playing with the mix of puppet puppets, Catalan glove puppets, objects theater, dance and even soap bubbles. In addition, this year the public’s criterion has, as it will be able to decide which is the best show of the edition.
This approach aims to be an opportunity to make the puppets visible, thus building a meeting and creativity point for professionals in this sector, who will have spaces to exchange impressions and knowledge.
Image of the 14th edition of the festival. Image: Juliet Feroz
The value of a historical encounter
In the 1940’s, when no rally had been held, the hands of Sebastià Vergés Prats They already gave life to the first puppets depicting the Spanish people. Linked to the festival since the beginning, this family saga with one hundred and fifteen years of history has become the oldest active active puppet company in Catalonia. Acting at this festival makes them feel at home. In addition, this year with the work The return of the putxinelis modernistSebastià’s grandson goes back to time and recovers classic characters from the family repertoire, such as Perico, La Marieta or the Demon Banyeta. This is how the richness of this festival presents new creations and, at the same time, recovers cultural legacies of high historical value, such as the one proposed by the Puppet company Vergés.
The Vergés family acts in the main square of the Poble Espanyol, 1940
As the theater of figures evolves, the festival grows and transforms remaining true to its origins and providing new creative proposals that excite and connect generations. This year, land in the Puppet planet and enjoy prominent works such as Bichos do Brazil ((Pia fraud) or Rats! ((Camp who can). There will be more than 46 functions by 13 companies, as well as craft workshops, traditional games and food trucks. An experience that will vibrate puppetry in every corner of the Spanish people.
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